Book Reviews
BELSAY
LJ ROSSThe latest addition to the DCI Ryan Mysteries series presents another tightly woven tale of suspense set in the picturesque yet often treacherous (in DCI Ryan’s world, at least) landscapes of Northumberland. When the body of a young woman is discovered on the grounds of historic Belsay Hall, Ryan and his team are thrust into a chilling investigation that reveals dark secrets lurking beneath the surface of the seemingly tranquil countryside. Ross’s signature blend of atmospheric settings, well-paced storytelling, and engaging characters guarantee a compelling read.
THE NORTH PENNINES: England’s Last Wilderness, a photographic celebration
HELEN SHAWThis hardback book of glorious colour photographs chronicles the life and landscapes of the beautiful North Pennines.
This is a striking visual exploration of a region often missed by visitors, focusing not only on famous views, but lesser-known spots that inspire the reader to get out and explore. Each caption reveals something intriguing about the subject of these images which capture wild and rugged places from remote Upper Teesdale to the grouse moors
and valley of Shield Water, to the River West Allen above Staward Gorge and its 18th century bridge. This collection reveals some 770 square miles of country, from Mallerstang on the fringes of the Yorkshire Dales, north to Hadrian’s Wall, west to Cumbria and the Eden Valley, and east to the outskirts of Consett and Bishop Auckland.
Every time I pick it up, my feet literally itch for my hiking boots and a day exploring the places revealed by Shaw’s lens.
SOUTH TO THE SUN: Tales from the Golden Age of Continental Motoring Holidays
ROGER HARVEYIf you grew up in the 1960s, 70s, or 80s you may well remember your family being packed into the car and driven over to Europe via the car ferry for a motoring odyssey. Roger Harvey recalls the excitement of these trips abroad: a type of summer holiday now almost forgotten but enjoyed by thousands of families who took the ferry to continental Europe. Harvey’s memories of ten years with his parents motoring from Denmark to Italy, Portugal to Austria is by turns humorous, poignant, and a snapshot of a simpler time, charting the joys and growing pains of romantic young love experienced by a sensitive young boy.
The cars, the food, the fun, the disasters: it’s all here, told with a poet’s eye for emotion and a novelist’s love of a good story.
Aftermaths
MIKE PRATTThis captivating collection of poems and reflections by Mike Pratt, CEO of Northumberland Wildlife Trust and columnist with this magazine, draws inspiration from the way nature uplifts and sustains us through both challenging and joyful times.
The poems began to take shape after Mike moved into a house perched halfway up the highest sea cliff on the eastern coast of England. Here on the Cleveland coast, he immerses himself in the abundant wildlife, honing his ability to observe the wonders, patterns, and rhythms of nature.
This unforgettable collection reveals the profound connection between human life and the wild world, merging the beauty of landscapes and wildlife with deep reflections on our existence amid the chaos of human society.
This is a collection to return to time and again, each reading offering fresh insights and new perspectives.
The National Garden Scheme’s Garden Visitor’s Handbook 2025
This is an indispensable guide for garden enthusiasts, offering access to over 3,500 gardens opening their gates for the National Garden Scheme this year, including scores in the North East. With hundreds of new gardens featured alongside beloved favourites, this comprehensive handbook is a treasure trove for those seeking to discover hidden horticultural gems or revisit old haunts. Packed with detailed descriptions, photographs and maps, it provides all the essential information needed for planning the perfect garden visit. What makes each visit even more special is that it contributes to supporting some of the UK’s most cherished nursing and health charities.
ROAD TRIP NORTHUMBERLAND GUIDEBOOK: The Ultimate Guide to Northumberland, the North East and North Pennines
ROBBIE ROAMSThis is the ultimate companion for anyone planning a road trip through one of England’s most scenic regions.
Packed with practical tips, insider advice, and personal anecdotes, this in-depth guide ensures an unforgettable journey, covering everything you need, from detailed itineraries and budgeting to accommodation options, including campsites, off-grid park-ups, glamping, and hotels.
Roams’ insider knowledge helps take the stress out of trip planning, making it a breeze to explore the dramatic coastlines, stunning beaches, picturesque hiking routes, and charming villages.
With a wealth of castles, bustling cities, and natural beauty around every corner, this book showcases the magic of the North East, making it a must-have for anyone seeking a memorable UK road trip.
BETWEEN THE SALT AND THE ASH: A Journey into the Soul of Northumbria
JAKE MORRIS-CAMPBELLPublished in March, Between the Salt and the Ash by award-winning poet and writer Jake Morris-Campbell is a deeply personal exploration of the North East, its natural beauty, landmarks, and people.
The journey begins after Morris-Campbell inherits his grandfather’s miners’ lamp, which inspires him to embark on a coastal pilgrimage from Holy Island to Durham Cathedral.
A South Shields native, Morris-Campbell weaves together the rich history of early Christian Britain with the present day, seeking to understand the past and the uncertain future of his homeland. Following a salt path, he challenges the notion that the North East is a region left behind in time.
A seamless blend of history, poetry, and travelogue, the book taps into the area’s literary and cultural heritage, uncovering fresh perspectives and new connections along the way.
CLIMBING STILES: A Wander Through the Countryside and Beyond
CHARLIE BENNETTThis second captivating collection of reflections by Northumbrian farmer and columnist for this magazine Charlie Bennett explores the intersection of nature, personal reflection, and human experience with his signature mix of poignancy and humour.
This follows the success of Down the Rabbit Hole: The Misadventures of an Unlikely Naturalist, published in 2022. In both collections, Charlie relates stories of life on his farm in Northumberland and his encounters with people going back decades.
With a sharp eye for the vagaries of human nature and a deep love for the natural world, this is essential reading for anyone who cares about the natural world and our place in it.
It’s an opportunity to explore the world with Charlie, sharing his joy in nature and humankind, and his reflections on the place of humans within the landscape.
It is by turns funny and thought-provoking – an unputdownable escape into nature writing at its best.
The Beauty, Culture and History of Northumberland in Rhyme
HELEN BRUNTONThis is a heartfelt celebration of Northumberland’s rich history and cultural heritage. Combining the author’s deep love for the region with meticulous research, the book offers a captivating glimpse into some of the area’s lost traditions, people and places, evoking nostalgia for many.
Through poetic rhyme, Brunton brings to life tales from across Northumberland, including stories like Billy the Whaler from Newbiggin, The Loss of Eventide, and The Strength of Newbiggin Women.
This collection is not only a tribute to the past but also a reminder of the enduring spirit of Northumberland’s communities. It will fascinate those with a connection to the region, a love of local history, or a connection to the stories told.
TOO FAR NORTH: Musical Scenes from the North East
IAN FAWDONIan Fawdon sets out to interview some of the most influential figures in the region’s musical history as he poses the question: why does the North East not have a recognisable music scene that defines it like, say, Liverpool or Manchester – is it just Too Far North?
The question is an interesting one, and to find out, Ian sits down with 30 artists to find out what it means to be a musician from the North East. He begins with key figures associated with The Animals and the 1960s scene and progresses through folk, heavy metal, indie and more before ending the book with a chapter focusing on the wonderfully talented contemporary star, Nadine Shah.
It’s a clever premise for a book. The thoughts from each interviewee each offer their own insight into the scene they have inhabited at a certain time and place. We hear from well-known names such as John Steel of The Animals; Ray Laidlaw and Rod Clements of Lindisfarne; Martin Stephenson of the Daintees; and Ross Millard of The Futureheads. Plus, there are pleasingly nostalgic old photos of gigs in pubs and concert halls (were you there?).
Rund The Rugged Rocks: A Further Collection of Tall Tales from the Coquet Valley
RICHARD MASONThis light-hearted book is the second compilation of amusing stories, dialect poems, sketches and photos of local characters from Coquetdale by an author with a keen ear and a dedication to documenting Northumbrian life.
It will appeal to the folk of Coquetdale, many of whom may recognise themselves, friends or family members within its pages, and to anyone who enjoys stories of the people of Northumberland or indeed of local life in rural Britain.
It is compiled by Richard Mason, who lives and works in and around the Coquetdale Valley, and while it will provoke smiles at the shenanigans and ridiculous tales of the goings-on in the area, it is also a historical snapshot of life in rural Northumberland in the past few decades. (Review by Janet Hardie)
Hay Girl - The Girl from the Book Festival Town: An Autobiographical Trilogy
BRIDGET ASHTONThis trilogy from Morpeth-based Bridget Ashton follows the models of Laurie Lee’s Cider with Rosie trilogy and Flora Thompson’s Lark Rise to Candleford in documenting the author’s life and many adventures after growing up in the book down of Hay-on-Wye and her family’s subsequent migration to Northumberland in 1955.
Each book starts with childhood in a rural town and follows the child’s life out into the wider world along with the trials, embarrassments, humour, pains and joys of growing up. Bridget began her life in 1950s Hay on Wye and has been based in Northumberland for many years. The books are published both as a three-in-one volume and individually.
By Light and Water
MARGARET MCALLISTER AND TONY BUGLASSThey say the best things come in small packages, and this beautifully simple book presents both a lyrical and a photographic exploration of life’s beauty crafted through words and pictures that evoke the elements in their most profound forms.
This is a gentle invitation to pause, breathe, and reflect on the interplay of the natural world and the human spirit. McAllister’s poems radiate a quiet spirituality and sensitivity to life’s fleeting moments, while Buglass weaves faith and grounded wisdom through his photographs. The imagery of light and water flows throughout the book. These elemental motifs symbolise renewal, clarity, and transformation. Take it everywhere with you and it will prove a faithful companion.
The Rocks at the Edge of the Empire: 50 extraordinary rock places that tell the story of the Romans and the landscape of their northern frontier
IAN JACKSONA fascinating introduction to the way in which geology influenced the Roman occupation of the most northerly part of Hadrian’s domain, this book is also an invaluable guide to walks to discover this landscape and its past. It lures the reader into places well-known and not-so obvious, revealing this country’s secrets and shining a light on
the challenges faced by the Roman army as it traversed difficult terrain and sourced building materials, energy, mineral and water resources.
What did rocks ever do for the Romans? The answer is pretty much everything, and this book is both a fascinating insight and a superb guidebook.
The Man Who Cycled Every Map
MARK WEDGWOODIn 2022, Mark Wedgwood cycled 7,300 miles across all 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger maps in numerically ascending order: a six-month odyssey to every part of Scotland, England, Wales and the Isle of Man.
He cycled cross-country from Newcastleton to Rothbury, and from there over to the coast, Alnwick and Alnmouth. There is cake and osprey-watching in Kielder, heather across the moors above Otterburn, a stretch of the Coquet Valley below the purplest of high hills, and a stopover in Rothbury, where a 90-mile ride is rewarded with a hearty pub dinner, which he demolishes gratefully.
This is life on the road, including the rituals of eating and drinking, keeping a bicycle going, and encounters with ordinary and extraordinary people. What comes through most strongly in this absorbing narrative is the curiosity of a man who simply delights in being out and about in the countryside, relating stories of the wild and human life he meets.
Rigby’s Encyclopaedia of the Herring: Adventures with the King of Fish
Who knew anyone needed to learn about herrings? Yet I do, and this triumph of curiosity, storytelling and wit from Tyneside-based Rigby casts a vast net to capture the mighty herring’s place in science, culture, war, art and food to show how it has shaped economies, inspired legends and sparked wars. This eccentric, encyclopaedic deep dive grew out of the BBC Radio 4 series Rigby’s Red Herrings, and the vast website www.herripedia.com (just go there…). Over 400 pages (I know!), it is packed with oddities: herrings’ high-pitched flatulence mistaken for Soviet submarines; vast spawnings seen from space; and the trillion individuals which make this one of the most abundant vertebrates on Earth. The book you never knew you needed, this is a rabbit hole the size of an ocean. Good luck . . .
GRAEME RIGBY
The Wolf of Whindale
JACOB KERR
The new chilling offering from Jacob Kerr, North East-born author of The Green Man of Eshwood Hall, is steeped in folklore, social unrest and a fair dollop of terror. Set in a storm-lashed northern pit community where tension simmers on the picket line, this story is defined by the Northumbrian landscapes that shaped the author; its brooding fells, treacherous moors and abandoned pit workings looming large in a place where myth and weather close in with equal ferocity. As people die in brutal, bestial attacks, the legend of the Wolf of Whindale takes hold in a taut, atmospheric tale that balances the earthy textures of English folklore with a sharp, contemporary edge. This is a chilling journey into a landscape where the past is never truly buried. Best read before nightfall . . .
This absorbing study explores the violent tapestry of the North East’s past via both the lens of significant events and the suffering of ordinary folk. From the great clashes that altered the course of nations to the routine brutalities that marked daily life, Dufferwiel excavates centuries in which Roman legions, Dark Age warlords, Viking raiders, Norman invaders, reivers and rebels all fought and bled on Northumbrian soil.
The author shifts deftly between the epic and the intimate, his explorations of great military confrontations told alongside the human consequences of plague, social unrest and long-running local feuds. Anchoring the narrative is a sure sense of place. The author examines battlefields and policy with a historian’s rigour, yet never loses sight of the communities shaped and often shattered by the relentless churn of conflict. The result is both panoramic in scope and profoundly human in its insights.
MARTIN DUFFERWIEL Northumbria’s Bloody History
Northumberland: The Story of Climbing in the County
A magnificent tribute to iconic climbing country, this landmark book spans more than a century of exploration, capturing the evolution of climbing in the region with authority and affection. It is elevated to the remarkable by the photography of Mark Savage, a climber who made first ascents of some of Northumberland’s hardest routes. He turned to photography after injury, spending more than two decades documenting the edges, tors and crags that define the region. His images convey not only the scale and solitude of climbing here, but its emotional texture, and at 472 pages, this is the most comprehensive account ever of Northumberland’s climbing heritage. It is a celebration of place from Bowden Doors to the coast, pairing vivid photography with anecdotes and route profiles to create a thoughtful and passionate account. For climbers, it offers fresh insight; for general readers it provides a sense of place, challenge and adventure. Climber and admirer alike will love this.
MARK SAVAGE, STEVE BLAKE, JOHN SPENCER 
The Home Bird: Creating Joyful Interiors where Old Meets New
Elle Hervin, the North East-based creator behind Instagram’s @elle_the_home_bird combines her passion for vintage finds and personal storytelling in her first book. It’s pleasing to be invited into her home (perfect, yes, but us mere mortals can borrow the odd idea . . .) and into others that embody Elle’s modern vintage style. If you’re seeking inspiration, or just want to look at photos of lovely houses, it’s rather nice. Just don’t look around your own living room and judge yourself, because this is a lovely book and it even inspired me to re-hang quite a few pictures. Which is a start..
ELLE HERVIN
The Northumberland-based historian and writer Richard Anderton’s portrait of the de la Pole brothers, Edmund and Richard – nephews of Richard III and the final Yorkist claimants to the English throne – is a fascinating analysis of their 30-year struggle against the Tudor Henrys VII and VIII.
Tracing murky domestic politics and a labyrinth of international intrigue that feels eerily contemporary, Anderton casts the brothers as figures of tragedy and ambition: Edmund, the pawn of larger forces; Richard, the wily White Rose in exile forging alliances with French and Scottish monarchs in an attempt to reclaim the English throne. This is medieval diplomacy, betrayal and dynastic claim-making laid bare, shining a light on a labyrinthine period and restoring two often-forgotten figures to their rightful, if uneasy, place in the story of England’s last great dynastic struggle.
RICHARD ANDERTON